Orientable focus for extension of reading field

Abstract

An imaging device has a focusing device flanked by electromagnets such that a magnetic levitation between the electromagnets and permanent magnets in the focusing device cause the focusing device to rotate about an axis. This rotation causes the optical axis of the focusing device to read an extended reading field beyond the ordinary reading field when the focusing device is in a balanced magnetic levitation position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging device, comprising:
 a focusing device that includes an optical assembly, wherein the optical assembly is configured to have one or more optical lens made from a hard transparent substance or a liquid lens system including an optical liquid material, wherein the optical assembly collects an image located at a distance at a reading field of the focusing device and transfers the image to an acquisition sensor in the focusing device;   the focusing device being configured to be orientable about an axis in one or more positions, wherein when the focusing device is in one position, the optical axis of the optical assembly in the focusing device is perpendicular to the reading field, wherein when the focusing device is rotatable about the axis in another position, the optical axis moves and creates an extended reading field from the movement of the optical axis, wherein the extended reading field is one or more adjacent areas to the reading field;   a plurality of electromagnets located exterior to the focusing device;   at least two magnets placed around the optical assembly;   when the optical axis of the optical assembly in the focusing device is oriented perpendicular to the reading field, the optical assembly achieves a fixed focus;   the plurality of electromagnets and the at least two magnets create a magnetic levitation, which causes a rotation of the focusing device;   when the magnetic levitation causes the rotation of the focusing device at the axis, the rotation of the focusing device yields the extended reading field and the focusing device achieves an orientable focus in the one or more adjacent areas to the reading field.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the extended reading field is planar. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two magnets have opposite polarities. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two magnets are at least two ring magnets placed radially around the optical assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electromagnets are four electromagnets that are placed in a fixed position in a housing that includes the imaging device. 
     
     
         6 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein magnetic levitation includes a magnetic attraction or a magnetic repulsion. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical assembly is an electro-mechanical autofocus lens system. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical assembly is a fixed focus lens system that has a depth of focus and can capture in-focus images in the reading field and the extended reading field. 
     
     
         9 . A method for creating an imaging device with an orientable focus for extension of a reading field, the method comprising:
 configuring a focusing device in the imaging device with an optical assembly that has one or more lens or a liquid lens system, further comprising capturing, through the optical assembly, an image located at a distance at a reading field of the focusing device;   orienting the optical assembly to extend the reading field, which is perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical assembly, wherein extending the reading field of the focusing device comprises rotating the focusing device about an axis;   locating a plurality of electromagnets in proximity to the optical assembly;   placing at least two magnets around the optical assembly, wherein the at least two magnets have opposite polarities;   orienting a line of sight of the focusing device perpendicular to the reading field to achieve a fixed focus; and   creating a magnetic levitation between the plurality of electromagnets and the at least two magnets, wherein creating the magnetic levitation causes a rotation of the focusing device at the axis, and wherein rotating the focusing device yields an extension of the reading field and achieves an orientable focus in the extended areas beyond the reading field.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein connecting the plurality of electromagnets to the optical assembly comprises connecting four electromagnets. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein creating a magnetic levitation comprises creating a magnetic attraction or a magnetic repulsion. 
     
     
         12 . An imaging device that has an autofocus and has a focusing device that pivots so as to extend a reading field located at a distance, comprising:
 a pair of ring magnets configured to radially magnetize with opposite polarities, wherein a ring spacer is located between the pair of ring magnets, and wherein the pair of ring magnets and the ring spacer form a first cylindrical shape;   the pair of ring magnets being configured to attach to an exterior of a cylindrical-shaped guide, wherein the pair of ring magnets and the ring spacer are adjacent to the cylindrical-shaped guide;   at least one motion coil is located adjacent to an interior of the cylindrical-shaped guide, wherein the at least motion coil is in a second cylindrical shape;   at least one sliding bushing adjacent to the at least one motion coil and located adjacent to the interior of the cylindrical-shaped guide;   the at least one motion coil is attached to a cylindrical support that is located to the interior of the at least one motion coil, wherein the cylindrical support is also located to the interior of the at least one sliding bushing and includes one or more lens;   the at least one sliding bushing is attached to one end of one or more conductive springs, and the other end of the one or more conductive springs is attached to the focusing device in proximity to an image sensor, wherein the at least one sliding bushing and the at least one motion coil move in a direction along the interior of the cylindrical-shaped guide when the at least one motion coil receives an electric current that passes through the one or more conductive springs;   when the at least one sliding bushing and the at least one motion coil move, the cylindrical support including the one or more lens also moves, wherein the at least one sliding bushing, the at least one motion coil, and the cylindrical support with the one or more lens move together as a unit, and wherein an amount of movement of the unit results in a focus of the reading field when captured at the image sensor;   a magnetic field crosses the pair of ring magnets in a direction orthogonal to the movement of the unit;   electromagnets configured to be located at an exterior of the first cylindrical shape of the pair of ring magnets and are also located in proximity to the pair of ring magnets such that magnetic levitation occurs between the electromagnets and the pair of ring magnets, wherein each of a first pair of electromagnets is located on one side of the pair of ring magnets and each of a second pair of electromagnets is located on the other side of the pair of ring magnets;   when magnetic levitation is balanced or even, the first pair of electromagnets and the second pair of electromagnets are equidistant and are placed in a fixed position, the focusing device achieves a fixed autofocus on the reading field;   when the magnetic levitation changes, the change of magnetic levitation causes the focusing device to move and rotate about an axis, wherein the focusing device is in a rotated position with an orientable autofocus on an extended reading field adjacent to the reading field.   
     
     
         13 . The imaging device of  claim 12 , wherein the movement of the unit is limited by an end guide placed at an end of the cylindrical-shaped guide so as to limit a motion of the unit, and the end guide is made of rubber. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one sliding busing comprises two sliding bushings. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one motion coil comprises two motion coils. 
     
     
         16 . The imaging device of  claim 15 , wherein one sliding bushing and one motion coil are paired together located adjacent to the interior of the cylindrical-shaped guide, the other sliding bushing and the other motion coil are paired together located adjacent to the interior of the cylindrical-shaped guide, and the one sliding bushing and the one motion coil are separated from the other sliding bushing and the other motion coil. 
     
     
         17 . The imaging device of  claim 12 , wherein a sliding bushing is made from a group consisting of polyoxymethylene (POM), polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), polyamide, and polyethylene (PE). 
     
     
         20 . An imaging device that has a focusing device that pivots so as to extend a reading field located at a distance, comprising:
 two pair of cylindrical magnets that are axially magnetized and are located radially around a cylindrical apparatus;   the interior of the cylindrical apparatus includes a liquid lens system;   a magnetic field crosses the two pair of cylindrical magnets in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the cylindrical apparatus;   electromagnets configured to be located at an exterior of the cylindrical apparatus and are also located in proximity to the two pair of cylindrical magnets such that magnetic levitation occurs between the electromagnets and the two pair of cylindrical magnets, wherein each of a first pair of electromagnets is located on the side of the first pair of cylindrical magnets and each of a second pair of electromagnets is located on the side of the second pair of cylindrical magnets;   when magnetic levitation is balanced or even, the first pair of electromagnets and the second pair of electromagnets are equidistant and are placed in a fixed position, the focusing device achieves a fixed autofocus on the reading field;   when the magnetic levitation changes, the change of magnetic levitation causes the focusing device to move and rotate about an axis, wherein the focusing device is in a rotated position with an orientable autofocus on an extended reading field adjacent to the reading field.   
     
     
         18 . The imaging device of  claim 12 , wherein a motion coil is made from copper wire and the one or more conductive springs are made of copper-beryllium wire. 
     
     
         19 . The imaging device of  claim 12 , wherein the cylindrical-shaped guide is made from stainless steel and the ring magnets are made from sintered neodymium iron boron.